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Astronomy: Adventures in Stargazing

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stargazer
(@stargazer)
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Here is the latest on the comet:

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS Climbs, Brightens and Delights! - Sky & Telescope - Sky & Telescope (skyandtelescope.org)

Last night I stepped out as civil twilight ended (7pm local daylight time), but the sky proved too bright to see much other than Venus and the Moon. But before long I caught a wispy, white line about 12 degrees high in the west-southwest, about halfway between Arcturus and Venus, and binoculars confirmed I was seeing the comet.  Pretty exciting! Once I knew where to look, I could also see it with the unaided eye. The tail was perhaps 4 degrees long in binoculars - less than other reports, but pretty good considering I'm viewing it from an urban area with lots of light pollution.

I invited Ryadian's father to join me, and he was able to spot it as well.

We returned outside this evening and found it again, slightly higher than before, but still visible to the unaided eye despite city lights and a nearly-full moon at our backs.

Check it out if you have a chance! The online finder charts should help in locating it, but unless you live in a dark place or have a camera, it probably won't look like those spectacular pictures we're seeing.

 

But all night, Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes.

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Topic starter Posted : October 15, 2024 7:17 pm
fantasia
(@fantasia)
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Just saw it this evening myself. Very cool. OK  

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Posted : October 15, 2024 7:23 pm
johobbit
(@jo)
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So great you both saw the comet, @stargazer and @fantasia. Tonight was my first night for viewing it, as the skies unexpectedly cleared. I began looking about a half hour after sunset, and while Venus and Arcturus (my pinpointers) were visible, I could not yet spot Atlas. But not too long after, in looking through my binoculars, there it was above and between Venus and Arcturus. What a tail it has!

And as the night deepened, the head was more pronounced and the tail more visible to the point that, as stargazer mentioned, we could see it with our unaided eyes. The binocular view was quite something, as well. The full Hunter's Moon was at our backs, rising in the eastern sky, which washed out the sky somewhat. That view, alone, was so beautiful. Then turning back to the west, we kept our eye on the comet.

First I saw it from our upper veggie garden, which allows a wide view to the west. Then, as dark completely fell, I went out front, stepping to a point on our west-side lawn where the neighbour's pathway lamp did not interfere, and spotted the comet a number of times (with binoculars and without) before it sank behind a large tree.

Given that the next four nights will be clear, we should have some good opportunities still. I eagerly anticipate finding the comet again. Smile But I wish we NarniaWebbers could all be together to do so!


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Posted : October 16, 2024 6:27 pm
Cobalt Jade
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Betweem Arcturus and Venus. Thanks! When it's clear here I'll look.

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Posted : October 18, 2024 11:35 am
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johobbit
(@jo)
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@cobalt-jade, tonight the comet is on the Venus side (albeit quite high above), rather than on the Arcturus side. This will help:

US map for C/2023 A3

^ If you right click and Open Image in New Tab, it should be larger.

I just spotted the comet again tonight. Third night in a row. So beautifully mysterious. I hope you can view it, Cobalt-Jade!


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Posted : October 18, 2024 5:59 pm
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stargazer
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Thanks for posting the image, Jo!

I also hope you get a chance to see it, @cobalt-jade. It depends somewhat on your location. I live in a suburb of a large metro area and was able to see it 4 nights in a row last week (Monday-Thursday). Friday and Saturday were cloudy.

The first 2 nights I was able to see it without optical aid, though binoculars helped the tail stand out more. The next two nights were slightly hazy and required binoculars to see it, but it was still fairly easy to spot.

In any case, since it is fading now, it helps a lot to know where to look for it, and the chart should help. If your sky is dark you still may catch it with the unaided eye. Good luck!

But all night, Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes.

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Topic starter Posted : October 20, 2024 2:02 pm
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johobbit
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Any success in viewing the comet, @cobalt-jade?

Great that you had a few very good viewing nights, @stargazer! I was able to see the comet Wednesday through Saturday nights. I could not find it on Sunday evening, although there was a bit of haze in the west. Believe me, I tried again and again, but to no avail. Giggle If Saturday was my last sighting, I am satisfied, as those four evenings were successful treats, indeed.

This is the time of year when Arcturus is visible here both in the evening and the morning skies. For a few mornings last week on my walk I was waiting expectantly for it to rise above the eastern horizon, and, sure enough, on Saturday, there it was, shimmering and sparkling not even 10° above the ENE horizon. Beautiful!

Because we have had a number of clear nights, lately (and cool), the night sky has been outstanding, particularly in the south, where are so many familiar on-high objects: Leo (east) Orion, Sirius (Canis Major), Procyon, Gemini, Mars (SSE), Jupiter, Aldebaran, the Pleiades (the latter two are more towards the west).

I had three days (pre-dawn) in a row when I saw stunning ISS passes around 6:30 each morning. Bright and strangely comforting. This morning it winded its way through Orion, then between Procyon and Sirius, and on to Leo (passing not far above Regulus).

I saw one Orionid meteor yesterday morning, but I still say the three I saw a couple of weeks ago could have been early Orionids. Bats eyes  


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Posted : October 22, 2024 4:08 pm
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Posted by: @jo

This is the time of year when Arcturus is visible here both in the evening and the morning skies. For a few mornings last week on my walk I was waiting expectantly for it to rise above the eastern horizon, and, sure enough, on Saturday, there it was, shimmering and sparkling not even 10° above the ENE horizon. Beautiful!

Your post inspired me to get outside and look for Arcturus yesterday morning, close to 7am. Unfortunately, though I could see the Winter Triangle, Mars, Jupiter, and the Moon in the growing twilight, clouds low in the northeast kept me from seeing Arcturus.

This morning, however, I had better luck! I went out around 6:30 and enjoyed the skies of the coming winter, and then walked down to the corner for a better view to the northeast. There are many trees around here, but now that they are losing their leaves it's easier to see low objects, and sure enough, Arcturus shone between the branches of a barren tree very low in the sky.

It's that time of year when, as S&T points out, Arcturus is "the ghost of summer suns." For a few days it occupies nearly the same spot in the sky that the sun did, back in June, at the same time on the clock.

I always enjoy welcoming an object back in the morning sky as it begins its next apparition (pun intended), but Arcturus is special to me since it may be the first star I learned to identify by name. (I'm not sure since it was close to 60 years ago and predates my written records).

 

But all night, Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes.

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Topic starter Posted : October 25, 2024 12:58 pm
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johobbit
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I have been seeing Orionids periodically over the past week. Yesterday's was from my peripheral vision - short, fast, bright; this morning's was looking at it straight on - long, fast, bright. Beautiful!

The sporadic clouds over the past couple of mornings have been really cool, to the point that, at one time, there were clear wells in the sky where each of Orion's main stars were, so that these were surrounded by clouds, but with the stars shining out from the centre clear parts. I wish my phone took great night photos. Quite the sight!

I have been trying to spot Antares near Venus in the early evening hours, but I think I'd better grab my binoculars to view it properly. The sky is still quite light in the west then, and Antares is much dimmer than Venus, so tricky to see with the naked eye right now, plus it is closer to the horizon.

EDIT: We must have posted almost simultaneously, stargazer, so here is an edit to respond to yours. Smile  

Posted by: @stargazer

I always enjoy welcoming an object back in the morning sky as it begins its next apparition (pun intended), but Arcturus is special to me since it may be the first star I learned to identify by name. (I'm not sure since it was close to 60 years ago and predates my written records.)

Ditto, ditto, re welcoming a night sky object back again. As we have said many times before, it is like seeing an old friend after a long dearth. I'm glad you saw Arcturus! To see it between the branches of the tree must have been really lovely.

And that is really neat that Arcturus is the first star you learned to identify, all those decades ago!

I meant to add above, too, that the Summer Triangle is so stunning right above, at the zenith of the sky right now in the evening hours. And, it is really nice that dark comes so early now, as there is much more time for stargazing without staying up until late hours, as in the summertime. Smile  


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Posted : October 25, 2024 12:59 pm
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In the three weeks since the posts above, the wheel of the sky keeps turning, and the other morning I was pleased to welcome Spica, the brightest star of Virgo, back into the morning sky. That day I was able to see Arcturus both in the morning and evening skies.

Speaking of Spica, the Moon will occult (pass in front of) that star for much of North America and the Atlantic basin before dawn on November 27. It will also cross the Pleiades star cluster (the Seven Sisters) for much of North America the night of November 15/16. The catch there is that the Moon is nearly full, making the cluster very hard to find without a telescope.

Read all about these events here: 

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/watch-the-moon-occult-the-pleiades-spica-too/

But all night, Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes.

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Topic starter Posted : November 14, 2024 5:02 pm
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johobbit
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Posted by: @stargazer

the other morning I was pleased to welcome Spica, the brightest star of Virgo, back into the morning sky. That day I was able to see Arcturus both in the morning and evening skies.

Likewise here! It was late last week, and I finally spotted Spica. Beautiful! Nice about seeing the Arcturus 'bookends', stargazer. Smile

Posted by: @stargazer

Speaking of Spica, the Moon will occult (pass in front of) that star for much of North America and the Atlantic basin before dawn on November 27.

So, this is really cool: clouds dominated when I began my walk yesterday morning, but then gradually dissipated, to the point where the crescent Moon—and very prominent earthshine—became wonderfully visible. As I looked closer, I saw Spica appear from the occultation, so that it was sitting on the dark edge (earthshine) of the Moon for a brief time, before they moved apart. The view was very striking, and I was thrilled the clouds parted enough for me to view this beautiful sight. Cool  


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Posted : November 28, 2024 8:54 am
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stargazer
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How awesome that you got to see the Moon near Spica, @jo

It was overcast here that morning, though I did see the crescent Moon with earthshine the previous morning. While the weather is living up to its reputation at this cloudiest time of year, I've had a few chances to enjoy the night sky.

Tonight, the sun set at 4:33 pm - almost as early as it ever does. The earliest sunset here comes next week, not at the December solstice. The solstice is the shortest (or longest, Down Under), but the extremes in sunrise and sunset times are offset from it, primarily because the earth's orbit isn't a perfect circle.

But all night, Aslan and the Moon gazed upon each other with joyful and unblinking eyes.

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Topic starter Posted : December 2, 2024 6:10 pm
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